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Drone Authority

Asia-Pacific drone rules

China drone laws for travelers

China is not a simple bring-and-fly destination. Registration, activation, identification, controlled zones, city/security rules, and app access can all affect whether a travel drone is usable.

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Mountain ridge photographed from a drone over the Asia-Pacific region35.90° · 104.20°

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Civil Aviation Administration of China

China

Strict or complex

Real-name registration and controlled-zone complexity

China is not a simple bring-and-fly destination. Registration, activation, identification, controlled zones, city/security rules, and app access can all affect whether a travel drone is usable.

The trip, step by step

Bring it
Do not assume a drone bought outside China can be activated, registered, or flown legally without local account and zone clearance.
Register it
Register the owner and the aircraft on CAAC's UOM platform (uom.caac.gov.cn) before flying. Foreign visitors are covered. CAAC's procedure lists foreign citizens as owners who must register, and a passport is an accepted document. CAAC's UOM app manual says users without a Chinese ID card upload a photo of the document for manual review. Chinese ID holders use a WeChat face check instead. Registration asks for a mobile number and uses SMS codes, so confirm a foreign number works before you travel. Flying unregistered can bring a fine of up to 200 yuan, or 2,000 to 20,000 yuan in serious cases.
Fly it
China requires real-name registration of every civil drone flown outdoors. Weight does not matter, so a drone under 250 g is not exempt. The rule is in Article 10 of the State Council's 2024 Interim Regulations on Unmanned Aircraft Flight Management. CAAC's registration procedure, AP-45-01R6, took effect July 1, 2026. Indoor-only flying and toys or models under separate rules are outside it. National standard GB 46761 adds activation: new drones from May 1, 2026, and drones already in use from May 1, 2027.
Map check
Check CAAC/UOM, DJI/geozone data as a secondary reference, local police/security rules, airports, military areas, borders, and scenic-site policies.

Before you travel

  1. 01Register on UOM before travel (every outdoor civil drone, including those under 250 g) and keep the registration mark with the aircraft.
  2. 02Check controlled/no-fly zones for each city or scenic area.
  3. 03Use local production or legal support for paid/commercial shoots.

Operating notes

Max altitude
Micro drones are defined with a 50 m maximum true height, and light drones fly below 120 m in permitted airspace without a flight application. Zones, category, and local approvals can override that.
Commercial work
Commercial filming should be treated as local-permit and production-coordination work, especially in cities, scenic areas, and controlled airspace.

Compare the route

Check nearby countries before you lock the itinerary.

Registration, import, and commercial-work rules can change at the border even when the flight looks identical.

Open every country guide
Australia drone rulesClear rules and strong official guidanceNew Zealand drone rulesPart 101 rules plus landowner consentJapan drone rulesRegistration plus permission for many common shots